Contra Costa NOW

Message from National NOW President Christian F. Nunes

Happy Friday Feminists,

As you may know, one of NOW’s six core issues is ending violence against women. The broad issue of violence manifests in many ways — gender-based violence, racism, sexual harassment, and more. As we enter into October, we want to raise awareness around domestic violence and the effects of abuse.

Misogyny, socio-economic status, and healthcare are among the many factors that influence domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Studies find that 1 in 4 women experience a form of severe intimate partner violence or stalking within their lifetime. Although we have fought for key legislation for protections like Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act, we cannot forget how other factors, like climate change, raise the likelihood of domestic violence within a community.

As natural disasters become more frequent and extreme throughout our nation, we must look deeper and examine the totality of their impacts on women. Not only are women more economically impacted through displacement, job loss, healthcare, and other needs, but women experiencing natural disasters are also more prone to intimate partner violence after the event because of the disparities those events create and/or deepen.

This is why we must take an intersectional approach when we look at ending violence against women and view how all factors can influence this tragic cycle. We must create and amend our legislation to include protection from all events, institute community-based resources that address these gaps, and provide support for women and children who are impacted. NOW remains dedicated in addressing systemic problems our nation faces and its attitudes toward protecting women.

In solidarity,
Christian

After selecting the recipients of our 2022 Contra Costa NOW university scholarships, we decided to check back with our first 2 winners of the 2021 scholarships.  We are pleased to acknowledge that both continue to succeed in their academic initiatives, contribute positively to their respective communities, and progress notably in the pursuit of their career goals.

Sia´h Fanta Jimissa

Sia´h just finished her second year at UC Berkeley and is currently finishing up her application for the Public Health major.  Sia´h´s extracurricular activities include serviing as the K-12 Recruitment Coordinator for the Black Recruitment and Retention Center, a student organization that hosts programs to encourage Black students to pursue and complete college. She was able to create and host programs including a scholarship and a shadow day for Black high school students.  This summer, she is participating in the UCSF Children’s Hospital’s Student Summer Research Program, an especially valuable opportunity for a Public Health major.

Thyra Anastashia Cobbs

Thyra is currently double majoring in African American studies and History, and minoring in African studies at UCLA.   She is in the Honors program, the Academic Achievement Program (AAP), and the Bruin Scholars program for foster youth/students who have been in guardianship. She has also been accepted for the McNair Research Scholars program and is currently researching the effects of Afrocentric psychological interventions on UCLA’s Black population. Next spring quarter, Thyra will be teaching a student-led seminar on Afrocentric Black Psychology through the Honors Program.   She is also engaging in student activism and leadership, having been appointed as the Transfer Coordinator for the African Student Union and will soon be applying to serve as the Campus Director of Mental Health in UCLA’s student government.

Meetup in Martinez & Bus to Sacramento
Action groups from across the East Bay will attend the Bans Off Our Body March & Rally at the California State Capitol Building in Sacramento.  Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) has generously agreed to cover the cost of buses for those who would like to ride together (masks required on board).
Waiver forms will be available and required.

Location: Martinez CourtHouse
725 Court St, Martinez, CA 94553

Time: Meetup at 8:30
Buses Leave at 9:30 Sharp

Agenda
8:30 – Gathering at Martinez Courthouse
8:40  – 9:15 Engaging speakers will rally the crowd
9:15 – move to buses or cars to drive to Sacramento
9:30 – Buses leave (no latecomers)
11:00 – March & Rally in Sacramento
3:00 – Buses leave Sacramento returning to Martinez (no latecomers)
4:00 – Buses arrive in Martinez  (time is approximate)

More details about speakers to follow  –

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bans-off-our-body-meetup-bus-to-martinez-tickets-335787799347

Contra Costa NOW
Election 2022 Endorsements

Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, District 4:  Carlyn Obringer  https://www.carlynobringer.com/

Contra Costa County Assessor:  Floy Andrews  https://www.floyforassessor.com/

Past Controversies Loom In Assessor Race
From an Article in the East Bay Times

To view the article click link below

https://enewspaper.eastbaytimes.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=dc002fed-f74e-4cbd-a6e0-a40421459197

NOW Supports National Week of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

We are at a transformational shift to a new era of gender equality in the United States, with feminist women holding some of the most consequential levers of power. 

Kamala Harris, a Black woman of South Asian descent, is the first woman vice president; for the first time in U.S. history, President Joe Biden has appointed equal numbers of women (now at 48%) to the Cabinet; and the House of Representatives is led by a feminist woman, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and feminists chair some of the most powerful committees including Rep. Maxine Waters of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro of the Appropriations Committee and Rep. Carolyn Maloney of the Oversight and Reform Committee. 

There’s no denying that 2021 is going to be an exciting, impactful and critically important year in the long struggle for gender equality.